The Twin Cities officially endured the ninth- coldest winter on record, with average temperatures of 9.7 degrees.

But after 49 days of subzero temps this winter, icy roads, parking bans and school closings, it might feel like that figure should be lower.

Hold on just a little longer. The high will approach 19 degrees Tuesday, break 20 on Wednesday and possibly reach 27 on Thursday.

Monday will hit that winter-average 9 degrees. However, wind chill values could result in temperatures as low as minus 22.

According to the state climatology office, this winter is the coldest since 1978-79, when temperatures averaged 9.4 degrees.

Another record was broken Sunday when a high of 3 degrees marked the coldest recorded high on this date in the Twin Cities. The second coldest high is 5 degrees, set in 1943 and 1989.

The coldest winter on record was in 1874-1875, when average temperatures were 6 degrees colder than this winter’s, according to the climatology office.

The National Weather Service’s meteorological winter data runs from December until February.

A wind chill advisory was in effect for central and southern Minnesota and west central Wisconsin starting at 6 p.m. Sunday, lasting until midnight, the weather service said.

Spring officially starts in less than three weeks.

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